Durban North | |
|---|---|
 Umgeni Park on the north bank of the Umgeni River's Blue Lagoon | |
  Durban North  Durban North | |
| Coordinates:29°48′00″S31°01′59″E / 29.8°S 31.033°E /-29.8; 31.033 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Municipality | eThekwini |
| Main Place | Durban |
| Government | |
| • Councillor | Shaun Ryley (DA) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 4051 |
| PO box | 4016 |
Durban North is an area to the north ofDurban in theeThekwiniMetropolitan Municipality,KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Durban North lies between theN2 freeway and the eastern seashore, with theUmgeni River forming its southern boundary. It has residential suburbs that are some of Durban's most affluent[1] and is flanked byLa Lucia in the north.
In 1927 the Durban North Estates Company, a property development company, bought a large tract of land north of the Umgeni River known as the Prospect Hall Sugar Estate.[2] Plans were laid out for the development of the land into a residential suburb, and roads were built, beginning with Northway, to be the main arterial through the new suburb.[2] At the time, access to the land across the Umgeni was limited to the Connaught Bridge further upstream. In November 1927, the company completed the iron girder Athlone Bridge across the Umgeni River to link the new suburb at Northway to the established area ofStamford Hill in the South.[3][4] Following the completion of the bridge and enhanced access to the city, Durban North rapidly developed, followed by Virginia in the 1950s, and Glenashley in the 1970s.[2]
Durban North begins on the northern bank of the Umgeni River with the suburbs ofUmgeni Park, Prospect Hall andAthlone. Along the eastern coastline northwards towards La Lucia are the suburbs of Beachwood, Virginia and Glenashley. Central Durban North is now officially known asBroadway, and is the commercial and educational hub of the area. To the west at the boundary withAvoca and are the suburbs of Parkhill, Red Hill, Glen Anil, Glen Hills, Greenwood Park, Kenville and the industrial area, Briardene.[5]
TheM12 Kenneth Kaunda Road links the western suburbs of Durban North touMhlanga Ridge in the north andStamford Hill in the south. The Ruth First/Leo Boyd Highway (M4) connects Durban North to thecity in the south anduMhlanga Rocks along the coast in the north.Virginia Airport is situated along the northern shoreline.
TheBeachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve conserves themangrove swamps of Beachwood on the northern bank of the Blue Lagoon. Rocket Hut Beach is adjacent to the reserve and is known for its fishing and was the scene of a shark attack in 1947 and 1954.[6][7]
Beachwood Country Club abuts the mangrove swamp, with a non-swimming beach known as Beachwood. The golf course at Beachwood was redesigned byGary Player in 1994.[8] Virginia Beach is just north of Beachwood, alongside the Virginia Airport.[9] Glenashley Beach is popular with locals, although it is officially a non-swimming beach.
TheUmgeni River Bird Park is located on the banks of the Umgeni River in Umgeni Park.Virginia Bush Nature Reserve is located in the suburb of Virginia,[10] whileSeaton Park Nature Reserve is found in Park Hill. Durban North has a municipal swimming pool[11] and a number of parks serviced by the eThekwini Municipality, including the Durban NorthJapanese Gardens.
Northwood Crusaders, established in 1964, is a sportsground catering to the community and old boys of Northwood School. Crusaders, as it is popularly known, has extensive sporting facilities for cricket, rugby, soccer, and athletics.[12] At the site of the oldGlenwood Old Boys' Club is Riverside Sports, which offers rugby and soccer fields along with two artificial turfs forhockey.[13] Durban North is home to the Regent Harriers, an informal running club that has been meeting since 1960.[14][15]
There are a number of independent and government schools in the area. Independent higher education providerVarsity College has a campus in Durban North.[16]
Durban North is divided over twoSAPS precincts. The section east of uMhlanga Rocks Drive and Kenneth Kaunda Road is covered by Durban North SAPS (located in Broadway) and the section west of uMhlanga Rocks Drive and Kenneth Kaunda Road is covered by Greenwood Park SAPS.[17][18][19]
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